Card file



Aug. 21, 192:; 1,681,629 F. M. SHOTWELL cm) FILE Filed Aug. 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l @lfw F. M. 'SHOTWELL Aug. 21, 192a;

CARD FILE Filed Aug. 6, 1927 Mia Efrain/5.72

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES snap at. SHOTWELL,

1,681,629 PATEN OFFICE.

or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Assreiron To HERMAN w. KRUEGER TRUSTEE, or GREEN \BAY, WISCONSIN.

CARD rILE.

Application filed August 6, 1927. Serial No. 211,127.

This invention pertains to improvements in card or document files and has primarily for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and durable file of either the drawer or separate receptacle type, which automatically adjusts itself to accommodate varying numbers of cards, letters, folders, ordocuments, and retain them in a vertical position.

Incidental ,to the foregoing, amore specific object is to provide a card file with gravity means adapted to automatically adjust itself to the number of cards or documents contained within the file, container or drawer, andhold them in a vertical position.

Another object is to provide a card file, container, or drawer, witha follower that will auton' atically adjust itsel'l to any number of cards and which is held against retrograde movement when the file is in its normal position. 7 i i V A still further object is to provide a card file, of the foregoing characteristics, with an improved cover, which when in use will neatly seat itself, andwhen not in use may be compactly nested with relation to the file, thus permitting the latter to be employed in a. very compact space.

With the above and other objects in view, whichlwill appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined bythe appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of.

the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

: In the accompanying drawings is illus trated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to'the best mode so tardevised for the practical application of the principles thereof In the drawings V .Figure 1 is a transverse section through a file constructedv inv accordance with the present invention, the same being taken on the line 1-1of'Figure 2; a

Figure .2 is a plan elevation; Figure 3 isa fragmentary. detailed section;v

Figure 4 is a transverse section of a modified structure, the same being taken onthe line l*"i: of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line of l igure 4, i

I Figure 6 is a transverse section illustrat ing a further modification;

FigureT is a side elevation of astill further modification Figure 8 illustratesa modified structure It to be noted particularly from Fig ures 2 and 3 that the follower is provided with reduced portions which form necks which fit within the slots 3. Outside o l these necks, that is, at theouter ends of the followersheads 6 are formed. These heads are enlargements"ofmaterially greater diameter than the necks U As best shown in Figure l, the slots are inclined downwardly towardthe front of the file and their, lower ends each terminate in an enlarged'opening awhich is of sufficient diametei'to receive the heads 6 formed on the ends of the follower. l.

Fi"omthe foregoing. explanation taken in connection with the drawings, itis obvious that gravity will cause the follower '4. to

automatically adjustitself to any number of cards, folders, or documents positioned within the file, and serve to hold thesame in avertical positioinwhich renders them more accessible to, the operator.

permitting the follower'to be readilyfassembled n its operative pos tion, and also per; mitting its removal should it be desired at any time to utilize the file without the fol lower.

Referring to the modification illustrated It will also be appreciated that the present structure is very simpleand ii'iexpe isive to manufacture, in thatpractically no machine work is required in its assembly, the en.

,larged openings .5 at the ends of the slots3 1 in Figures 4 and 5, this structure differs primarily from that previously described in that the inclined slots 3 formed in the sides 2, are provided on their bottom edges with a series of projections ll .ilclapted to prevent retrograde movement of the follower 4, after the same has been adjusted .:to the number of cards within the file and the file is placed in its normal operative position. Above the slots 3', are formed reenforcing ribs 6, which strengthenthe mate. rial at this point, thus preventing bendmg and disalinement of the slots, with resulting binding or sticking of the follower.

It will also be noted that a novel form of cover 7 is provided which is pivotally and slidably secured to the file by means of pintles 8 which project through vertical slots 9 formed in the side walls 2 adjacent the rear of the file. A clip 10 formed of a strip of sheet metal serves to hold the cover 7 in the desired nested position when the same is open.

In the operation of the modified structure 1 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the follower may be adjusted to the number of cards contained within the file either manually or automatig cally. In order to accomplish the foregoing automatically, it is merely necessary to tilt the file forwardly to a vertical position which allows the follower to drop down to engage the stack of cards C, after which the file is then turned back to its normal position illustrated, which causes the follower 4 to be held against retrograde movement by the projections 11 formed in the lower edges of V the slots 3'.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a very simple and inexpensive structure has been provided which automatically adjusts itself to hold any desired number. of cards contained within the file'in an upright position, the retrograde movement of the follower being preventedby either the angle of inclination of the slots or by the projections 11 illustrated in the modification- This latter structure is highly desirable where a file of great length is required, due to the fact that in such instances the angle of the slots 3 must be necessarily reduced.

lVhile two specific forms of the invention have been described in detail, namely that form utilizing the'plain inclined slots, and the form provided with slots having projections to retard retrograde action of the follower, it is considered highly desirable in some instances to combine these features.

It is'therefore proposed to accomplish this by the structures disclosed in Figures 6 and 7. In'that form' shown in Figure 6 the sides of the receptacle are provided with corresponding slots 12, each having two por tions, namely a plain inclined lower slot 13,

and an upper slot 14 provided with projections 11, both slots serving their respective functions as heretofore explained in connection with the structures shown in", Figures 1 and 4. 1

Figure 7 illustrates another arrangement of slots vwherein each of the slots'12 are provided with two inclined portions. In this instance the upper slot 13 is plain,while the lower slot 14 is provided with the projections l1; I

It will be further noted from the modified structures, Figures Sand 7,-the manner of attaching the cover 7 to the receptacle is 5, inthat inthis instance the sides of the cover are provided with slots 9, which re-.

ceive the pins 8 carried by the receptacle, to permit both slidable and pivotal movement of the cover with relation to-the receptacle. It will alsobe noted that theupper portions ofthe slots 9 are provided with an offset portion 9, which, when the cover is nested on'the receptacle in itsop'en' position, permits the same to swing'backto aposition slightly over the center and thus prevents accidental closing of the cover. A particular advantage of the foregoing man-' ner of attaching-the cover to'the receptacle resides in the fact that it' eliminates the necessityfor a retaining clip such as that disclosed in Figure 4.

reverse from that shown in Figures 4 and It will be further seen that a very simple I form of cover has been provided which when not in use may be compactly nested to permit use of the file in a limited space.

In FigureS is illustrated a modified structure of follower wherein'means are providedfor positively locking the follower in the slots of the container to prevent its retro? grade action.( In order to accomplish this,

one'end of the follower-'4 is provided with a reduced portion 16 which projectsthrough one of the slots 8 formed in' the side 2 ofjthe container. Projecting. from the reduced p'ortion ldisa threaded shank 16 for the reception of a nut 17, the .end' of. the thread" ed shank being preferably upset to prevent coniplete'removal of the nut. In operation,

the foregoing structure'of follower permits the same to be adjusted up to the cards within thecontainer and thereafter locked by turning up on the nut 17 and binding lower is prevented by gravity.

Although the invention has "been, described in considerable detail, "such descriptiontis intended as illustrative ratherthan limiting,

as the invention may be variously embodied within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the invention is readily aplie 7 plicahle to a drawer or container of any description, instead of being confined to what is strictly termed a card file of the separate receptacle type. Likewise, in utilizing the term ca-rd file it is intended that the same shall include a receptacle for the proper filing of any kind of papers, documents, letters, or the like.

I claim I 1. In combination with a card, letter or document file, means automatically adjustable to engage anynumber of cards or documents within the file for holding the same in a vertical position, and means ohstructing the retrograde movement of said first-mentioned means. 7

2. A card, letter, or document file provided with inclined tracks in its sides,'and a follower slidably guided in said tracks,

3. A card, letter, or document file provided with inclined tracks in its sides, a follower slidably guided in said tracks, and

means for obstructing the retrograde movement of said follower.

4. A card, letter or document file provided with corresponding inclined slots in its sides, and a follower slidably guided in said slots for engaging cards within the file.

5. A card, letter ordocument file provided with corresponding inclined slots in its sides, said slots having enlarged openings in one of their ends, a follower slidably guided in said slots, and heads formed on the ends of said follower for insertionthrough said enlarged openings.

6. A card, letter, or document file provided with corresponding inclined slots in its sides, a follower slidably guided in said slots, and projections in the lower edges of said slots to prevent retrograde movement of the follower when the file is in normal position.

7. A card, letter, or document file pro vided with corresponding slots in its sides, said slots being inclined downwardly towards the front of said file, a follower having its ends guided in said slots, means formed in the lower edges of said slots for retarding retrograde movement of said follower when the file is in its normal operative position, and a cover 'pivotally and slidably connected to said file adjacent its rear wall.

8.'A card, letter, or document file comprising a box-like member having parallel sides, each of said sides having a U-shaped slot with the arms of the U projecting towards the front of the box, the bottom edge of one of said slots being'provided with notches, one of said slots slanting downwardly and forwardly towards said front edge, and a follower extending transversely of the card file and having ends slidably guided in said slots.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Green Bay, inthe county of Brown and State of Wisconsin.

FRED M. SHOTWELL. 

